Multipliers: How the Best Leaders Make Everyone Smarter. By Liz Wiseman.

If you are looking for a leadership book to add to your collection, look no further … #leadvantagellp highly recommends “Multipliers: How the Best Leaders Make Everyone Smarter” by Liz Wiseman.

We have all experienced both great leadership and the opposite in our careers. Great leaders build those around them, amplifying the capabilities and talents of every team member. They understand that they don’t have all the answers and accept that they are often not the smartest in the room, nor need to be. Their leadership position is that success is only possible as a team, leveraging the talents of all members. Wiseman calls this type of leader a multiplier. The opposite is a diminisher. These are leaders who suck the life out of those around them, stifling teams, their capabilities, creativity, and contributions. Wiseman describes diminishers as, “the idea killers, the energy sappers, the diminishers of talent and commitment ….” There’s no doubt that diminishers are costly to your business!

Take a look at this chart and ask yourself, how do you …

Source: “Multipliers: How the Best Leaders Make Everyone Smarter” by Liz Wiseman

“There’s nothing soft about these [multiplier] leaders. They expect great things from their people and drive them to achieve extraordinary results … people actually get smarter and more capable around multipliers. That is, people don’t just feel smarter; they actually become smarter. They can solve harder problems, adapt more quickly, and take more intelligent action.” Liz Wiseman

Let’s use the analogy of an open versus closed door.

A multiplier not only keeps their door open, they keep their door wide open, inviting people in. Diminishers, on the other hand, keep their door firmly closed, shutting out those around them. Multipliers attract and optimize talent, create intensity that requires best thinking, extend challenges, debate decisions, and instill ownership and accountability.

Wiseman walks the reader through the five disciplines of a diminisher vs. multiplier. In a nutshell, a multiplier is:

1. The Talent Magnet: Attract talented people and leverage their talent at their highest point of contribution.
2. The Liberator: Create an intense environment that requires people to operate at their best.
3. The Challenger: Identify and define an opportunity to think outside of the box, allowing people to stretch their talents and skills.
4. The Debate Maker: Promote robust dialogue and debate to drive sound and innovative decisions.
5. The Investor: Give credit where credit is due, enhancing ownership of work and investing in the success of others and the team.

Source: “Multipliers: How the Best Leaders Make Everyone Smarter” by Liz Wiseman If you feel like your company is “overmanaged and underled”, this book is for you! Reshaping how we show up and operate is hard work but so worth it! Become a multiplier! Harness the talents of those around you. Have an impact – for you, your people, and your organization. 

Here’s our challenge for you:

Ask yourself: How do you show up day-to-day? Are you a multiplier or diminisher? Are you a talent magnet, liberator, challenger, debate maker, and investor? If not, what can you tweak in how you lead to embody these disciplines?